Braves Player’s Family In Hospital After Fiery Crash With Police Cruiser

MIAMI (CBSMiami) – The family of Atlanta Braves infielder Sean Rodriguez is recovering after a fiery crash with a stolen Miami-Dade police cruiser.

Surveillance video released Monday shows where the officer was when her cruiser was stolen. The officer was responding to a call at Chicken Grill at SW 16th Street and 107th Avenue. She was examining a bag that was left on a table. Suddenly, she had to leave when her cruiser was stolen.

“What we do know is an officer was conducting an investigation and he jumped in the car,” said Det. Daniel Ferrin with Miami-Dade Police.

Miami-Dade police said the officer immediately called in to dispatch that her car was stolen. At the same time, another call came in regarding a marked police vehicle involved in an accident on Coral Way.

Rodriguez, 31, t-boned the patrol car Saturday morning after it hit a Honda Civic and crossed his path at Coral Way near 99th Street.

Rodriguez’s wife was taken to Kendall Regional Medical Center where a spokesperson for the hospital said she was in fair condition, as of Monday. His children, 8-year-old Sean Jr. and 2-year-old Zikiel, were taken to Nicklaus Children’s Hospital. They remain in serious but stable condition.

A good Samaritan had tried to help the kids after the crash.

“I first got the boy out. I put him on the floor. He had a lot of blood. It’s difficult,” said Pablo Arriola.

Rodriguez and the driver of the Honda, 62-year-old Marcus Rodriguez, were treated at the scene.

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue helped the injured and put out the burning patrol car which had erupted into flames as a result of the crash. The man who stole the cruised died behind the wheel.

“This accident was very bad. Speed was a factor,” said Ferrin.

Arriola also tried to help the man in this stolen cruiser who lost his life.

“I approached. He looked worse. He looked like a young man. He was already dead,” said Arriola.

The Atlanta Braves released a statement on the matter saying,

“At this time, our thoughts and prayers are with the health and well-being of Sean’s family as they look to recover.”

Sean Rodriguez went to Coral Park High School and for the past two years played with the Pittsburgh Pirates. MLB.com reports that Rodriguez will not miss any of spring training because of his minor injuries and is expected to start the season as the Braves’ primary second baseman.

Peter D'Oench is a reporter for CBS4 News. He came to CBS4 from WKRN in Nashville.
D'Oench was an award-winning member of the WPLG News Team as a reporter from 1989 – 2004. In addition, he was a producer for news, special projects and...